Collin sat slouched down on a random bench at Port Charles' Public Park,
located in the heart of the city. The playground was in view, as was the
basketball court where a group of ladies were playing a half court game.
Every few seconds he'd glance over and make sure Dawne was in sight, but
mostly he watched the game.
He hissed in a breath when a pretty brunette elbowed another brunette in the face, accidental or not, he was hopin' for a cat fight. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the sound of a female clearing her throat. He looked up and faced a gorgeous woman with short blonde hair, decked out in a stylish tank top and capris. "This seat taken?" she asked indicating the free bench space next to him.
"Certainty not," he replied with a charming smile. He quickly noted the ring on her left hand, but wasn't discouraged, a little flirting wouldn't kill her.
"I haven't seen you around here before," she said as she looked at him curiously.
"I'm just visiting," he replied. "I'm Collin Francis, and what, may I ask, is your name?"
"Carly, Carly Corinthos," she replied and held out a hand to shake his.
He took it delicately and turned it, placing a kiss on the back of her hand. "It's wonderful to meet you Mrs. Corinthos."
Carly smiled. "How'd you know I was married?" she asked.
He indicated the ring on her hand with a nod. "Your ring, and I've heard about you from a friend. You're married to big time mobster, Sonny Corinthos."
Carly smiled again and nodded. "Right again. So lemme' guess, you're from France?" He nodded. "What part?"
"There was never one place," he replied. "I've lived all over Europe, but you're right, mostly France."
She nodded. "I've always wanted to go to Europe," she said with a wistful smile. "I hear it's lovely."
"It is," he nodded and glanced over where she was watching Dawne and a young redheaded boy of about 9. He knew who he was instantly from Skye's stories. It was her nephew Michael, AJ's son, but from what he remembered, Michael didn't know AJ was his father, therefore he didn't know Skye either. "I think we may have a problem," he said indicating the two children.
"Is she yours?" she asked. "She's beautiful."
"Thanks," he nodded. "But she's not mine, although sometimes I think of her as my daughter. She's my friend's kid."
"The one you're visiting?" she asked with a nod.
"Yes," he replied and the two of them continued to watch the two kids speak to each other while swinging on the swing set. A few moments later his eye was caught by Skye walking towards the swings in a jogging suit instead of the suit she'd been wearing earlier.
"Oh God, what does she want?" Carly groaned when she noticed Skye. She watched Skye carefully as she stopped and scanned the playground, she spotted Michael and began in that direction. "Oh no you don't," Carly growled and got up to head Skye off.
Collin pushed off the bench and followed Carly. He grinned to himself, maybe he was going to get that cat fight after all.
They reached Skye seconds after Skye had bent down between the two children on the swings. "Get the hell away from my kid Skye!" Carly burst out angrily.
Skye looked up startled and noticed Collin standing behind Carly watching the show with interest. "Carly, great to see you too," Skye said sarcastically. "How's the baby."
"None of your damn business," Carly snapped. "Now step away from my kid."
Skye smirked at her. "Whatever you say your highness," she replied and bent down to speak with the girl. "Come with me baby, we'll go have fun together, 'kay?"
Carly watched as the little girl smiled and took Skye's hand. "Oh no you don't," Carly intervened. "I'm not letting you kidnap another kid just because you couldn't get to mine."
"I wasn't planning on kidnapping anyone, Carly," Skye replied.
Carly opened her mouth to say something, but when she looked down at the little girl, she couldn't help but notice a resemblance between Skye and the girl. She looked back and forth between them several times and could come to no logical conclusion.
Skye smirked again. "Carly, meet my daughter, Dawne."
Carly was speechless for a moment, her mouth hanging open. She snapped it shut quickly. "Why the hell would God bless you with a kid?" she asked.
Skye shrugged. "I was just lucky I guess."
Collin laughed, but covered it up with a cough. "Sorry, allergies," he cleared his throat.
Skye grinned at Collin, then nodded for him to follow her as she held Dawne's hand. "Mommy? Can I stay and play with Michael?" she asked.
Skye stopped and looked up at Carly who was biting her lip. "I don't think Michael's mommy would like that very much baby."
"Oh let the kids play," Collin stepped in. "They're just kids, what harm could it cause?" he asked the both of them.
Carly glanced at Skye, then down at Michael who looked at her hopefully. She sighed. "Oh all right, fine go play," she waved a hand to Michael and he and Dawne took off across the park to the seesaw.
Skye gave Carly a small smile. "Thanks."
"Whatever," Carly shrugged. "They're cousins, I guess they should know each other."
Collin looked between the two women. "You know, I just remembered I have a doctors appointment... or something." He walked off quickly. "I'll stop by the mansion later?"
"All right," Skye called back as he disappeared out of sight. She laughed to herself, Collin was such a goof ball.
"So is he the father?" Carly asked after they'd stared at each other uncomfortably for a moment.
Skye shook her head slowly. "No, Collin's just a friend."
Carly nodded slowly as if she understood. "I didn't know you had a daughter."
"Not many people did," she replied. She wrung her hands, slightly nervous, conversation with Carly rarely went well. She liked Carly though, every time they came in contact she couldn't help but want to be friends with her. She was strong, beautiful, intelligent... they were very much alike, and maybe that's why they'd never gotten along.
"Do the Quatermaines know?" she asked.
Skye gave a little laugh at the memory of the look on their faces when Dawne had called her mommy. "Oh yeah, they know."
Carly laughed too. "That must've been a Kodak moment."
"It was, trust me," Skye agreed. Carly walked over to the nearest bench and Skye followed close behind. They sat down next to each other, still smiling at the thought of the Quatermaines learning of a new heir.
"I hope you're not gonna' let Edward get his hands on her," Carly pointed out. "He'll ruin her."
"Oh no, he won't touch her," Skye shook her head firmly. "At the end of the week she's going back to school in France where he can't find her."
"Why is she in France? Why isn't she here with you?"
Skye shrugged. "It's better if she's not exposed to the Quartermaine way of life. If she grows up in a place where she's loved and appreciated, maybe she won't be like me."
"But you won't be there, don't you want to be there?" Carly asked.
"More than anything," Skye nodded. "But France holds too many bad memories for me. I visit her every chance I get, but I hate going there. If they didn't have the best private schools, she wouldn't be there."
"I could never be separated from Michael," Carly shook her head. "He and Sonny are my world, and this little one here," Carly patted her stomach with affection.
"I've always wanted to congratulate you and Sonny," Skye nodded with a smile. "I think it's wonderful you two are having a baby."
"Thanks," Carly said with a smile, but her face soon fell. "I'm sorry about that little crack I made earlier about God giving you a daughter, you obviously love her-"
"I do," Skye agreed whole-heartedly. "But you're probably right, the first couple years of her life I thought of her as a burden. I was angry with God for giving her to me; I hated Him for it. I thought He was punishing me."
"Why?" Carly asked and immediately regretted her curiosity as she watched Skye shift uncomfortably and stand up.
"I-I have to go," she waved a hand and began walking off. "It was nice to finally get to know you."
"Yeah," Carly nodded, her voice not carrying far enough for Skye to hear. "You too," she said more to herself as she watched Skye hurry towards her daughter and pull her away from Michael.
Ever since Skye had breezed through the doors of the Quartermaine mansion two and a half years ago, she'd kept her past firmly hidden behind an impenetrable wall. Carly was sure Skye hadn't even shared any of it with Jax, which had turned out all fine and well in the end since he'd left her faster than you could say fidelity for the Malibu Barbie named Brenda. But now, she wondered, if that wall was crumbling, and soon Port Charles was going to find out the truth about the mystery Quartermaine. Carly had a feeling it wasn't any fairy tale, either.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry, this took a little while longer than expected. I've got so many ideas crowding my brain and they all can't fit in with this story so I don't know what to do with them! I have a feeling you'll see a few stories by me pop out before this one is finished because I'm bursting with ideas, but at the same time I really want to finish this one and have no idea where it's headed. Anyway, enough with my strange mental state! PLEASE review! Little do some people know, but good reviews tend to inspire an insecure author such as myself.
He hissed in a breath when a pretty brunette elbowed another brunette in the face, accidental or not, he was hopin' for a cat fight. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the sound of a female clearing her throat. He looked up and faced a gorgeous woman with short blonde hair, decked out in a stylish tank top and capris. "This seat taken?" she asked indicating the free bench space next to him.
"Certainty not," he replied with a charming smile. He quickly noted the ring on her left hand, but wasn't discouraged, a little flirting wouldn't kill her.
"I haven't seen you around here before," she said as she looked at him curiously.
"I'm just visiting," he replied. "I'm Collin Francis, and what, may I ask, is your name?"
"Carly, Carly Corinthos," she replied and held out a hand to shake his.
He took it delicately and turned it, placing a kiss on the back of her hand. "It's wonderful to meet you Mrs. Corinthos."
Carly smiled. "How'd you know I was married?" she asked.
He indicated the ring on her hand with a nod. "Your ring, and I've heard about you from a friend. You're married to big time mobster, Sonny Corinthos."
Carly smiled again and nodded. "Right again. So lemme' guess, you're from France?" He nodded. "What part?"
"There was never one place," he replied. "I've lived all over Europe, but you're right, mostly France."
She nodded. "I've always wanted to go to Europe," she said with a wistful smile. "I hear it's lovely."
"It is," he nodded and glanced over where she was watching Dawne and a young redheaded boy of about 9. He knew who he was instantly from Skye's stories. It was her nephew Michael, AJ's son, but from what he remembered, Michael didn't know AJ was his father, therefore he didn't know Skye either. "I think we may have a problem," he said indicating the two children.
"Is she yours?" she asked. "She's beautiful."
"Thanks," he nodded. "But she's not mine, although sometimes I think of her as my daughter. She's my friend's kid."
"The one you're visiting?" she asked with a nod.
"Yes," he replied and the two of them continued to watch the two kids speak to each other while swinging on the swing set. A few moments later his eye was caught by Skye walking towards the swings in a jogging suit instead of the suit she'd been wearing earlier.
"Oh God, what does she want?" Carly groaned when she noticed Skye. She watched Skye carefully as she stopped and scanned the playground, she spotted Michael and began in that direction. "Oh no you don't," Carly growled and got up to head Skye off.
Collin pushed off the bench and followed Carly. He grinned to himself, maybe he was going to get that cat fight after all.
They reached Skye seconds after Skye had bent down between the two children on the swings. "Get the hell away from my kid Skye!" Carly burst out angrily.
Skye looked up startled and noticed Collin standing behind Carly watching the show with interest. "Carly, great to see you too," Skye said sarcastically. "How's the baby."
"None of your damn business," Carly snapped. "Now step away from my kid."
Skye smirked at her. "Whatever you say your highness," she replied and bent down to speak with the girl. "Come with me baby, we'll go have fun together, 'kay?"
Carly watched as the little girl smiled and took Skye's hand. "Oh no you don't," Carly intervened. "I'm not letting you kidnap another kid just because you couldn't get to mine."
"I wasn't planning on kidnapping anyone, Carly," Skye replied.
Carly opened her mouth to say something, but when she looked down at the little girl, she couldn't help but notice a resemblance between Skye and the girl. She looked back and forth between them several times and could come to no logical conclusion.
Skye smirked again. "Carly, meet my daughter, Dawne."
Carly was speechless for a moment, her mouth hanging open. She snapped it shut quickly. "Why the hell would God bless you with a kid?" she asked.
Skye shrugged. "I was just lucky I guess."
Collin laughed, but covered it up with a cough. "Sorry, allergies," he cleared his throat.
Skye grinned at Collin, then nodded for him to follow her as she held Dawne's hand. "Mommy? Can I stay and play with Michael?" she asked.
Skye stopped and looked up at Carly who was biting her lip. "I don't think Michael's mommy would like that very much baby."
"Oh let the kids play," Collin stepped in. "They're just kids, what harm could it cause?" he asked the both of them.
Carly glanced at Skye, then down at Michael who looked at her hopefully. She sighed. "Oh all right, fine go play," she waved a hand to Michael and he and Dawne took off across the park to the seesaw.
Skye gave Carly a small smile. "Thanks."
"Whatever," Carly shrugged. "They're cousins, I guess they should know each other."
Collin looked between the two women. "You know, I just remembered I have a doctors appointment... or something." He walked off quickly. "I'll stop by the mansion later?"
"All right," Skye called back as he disappeared out of sight. She laughed to herself, Collin was such a goof ball.
"So is he the father?" Carly asked after they'd stared at each other uncomfortably for a moment.
Skye shook her head slowly. "No, Collin's just a friend."
Carly nodded slowly as if she understood. "I didn't know you had a daughter."
"Not many people did," she replied. She wrung her hands, slightly nervous, conversation with Carly rarely went well. She liked Carly though, every time they came in contact she couldn't help but want to be friends with her. She was strong, beautiful, intelligent... they were very much alike, and maybe that's why they'd never gotten along.
"Do the Quatermaines know?" she asked.
Skye gave a little laugh at the memory of the look on their faces when Dawne had called her mommy. "Oh yeah, they know."
Carly laughed too. "That must've been a Kodak moment."
"It was, trust me," Skye agreed. Carly walked over to the nearest bench and Skye followed close behind. They sat down next to each other, still smiling at the thought of the Quatermaines learning of a new heir.
"I hope you're not gonna' let Edward get his hands on her," Carly pointed out. "He'll ruin her."
"Oh no, he won't touch her," Skye shook her head firmly. "At the end of the week she's going back to school in France where he can't find her."
"Why is she in France? Why isn't she here with you?"
Skye shrugged. "It's better if she's not exposed to the Quartermaine way of life. If she grows up in a place where she's loved and appreciated, maybe she won't be like me."
"But you won't be there, don't you want to be there?" Carly asked.
"More than anything," Skye nodded. "But France holds too many bad memories for me. I visit her every chance I get, but I hate going there. If they didn't have the best private schools, she wouldn't be there."
"I could never be separated from Michael," Carly shook her head. "He and Sonny are my world, and this little one here," Carly patted her stomach with affection.
"I've always wanted to congratulate you and Sonny," Skye nodded with a smile. "I think it's wonderful you two are having a baby."
"Thanks," Carly said with a smile, but her face soon fell. "I'm sorry about that little crack I made earlier about God giving you a daughter, you obviously love her-"
"I do," Skye agreed whole-heartedly. "But you're probably right, the first couple years of her life I thought of her as a burden. I was angry with God for giving her to me; I hated Him for it. I thought He was punishing me."
"Why?" Carly asked and immediately regretted her curiosity as she watched Skye shift uncomfortably and stand up.
"I-I have to go," she waved a hand and began walking off. "It was nice to finally get to know you."
"Yeah," Carly nodded, her voice not carrying far enough for Skye to hear. "You too," she said more to herself as she watched Skye hurry towards her daughter and pull her away from Michael.
Ever since Skye had breezed through the doors of the Quartermaine mansion two and a half years ago, she'd kept her past firmly hidden behind an impenetrable wall. Carly was sure Skye hadn't even shared any of it with Jax, which had turned out all fine and well in the end since he'd left her faster than you could say fidelity for the Malibu Barbie named Brenda. But now, she wondered, if that wall was crumbling, and soon Port Charles was going to find out the truth about the mystery Quartermaine. Carly had a feeling it wasn't any fairy tale, either.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry, this took a little while longer than expected. I've got so many ideas crowding my brain and they all can't fit in with this story so I don't know what to do with them! I have a feeling you'll see a few stories by me pop out before this one is finished because I'm bursting with ideas, but at the same time I really want to finish this one and have no idea where it's headed. Anyway, enough with my strange mental state! PLEASE review! Little do some people know, but good reviews tend to inspire an insecure author such as myself.
